Milllbury youth leader sets sights on Windle Field rejuvenation

Saturday

Mar 31, 2012 at 12:01 AMApr 3, 2012 at 7:51 AM

Millbury High School freshman Jess Sharon is sick of the litter, peeling paint and forgotten courts at Windle Field. She spends many hours watching her sisters play softball at the site, sitting on what she said could be unsafe bleachers and benches, looking at the evidence of vandalism and trash strewn around. “It reflects on our town,” she said. “The field is in the center of town.”

Millbury High School freshman Jess Sharon is sick of the litter, peeling paint and forgotten courts at Windle Field. She spends many hours watching her sisters play softball at the site, sitting on what she said could be unsafe bleachers and benches, looking at the evidence of vandalism and trash strewn around. “It reflects on our town,” she said. “The field is in the center of town.”

“People get something to eat and leave trash on the field,” she said. The field house also needs attention, Jess said, such as a good cleaning and painting — perhaps as much as $1,000 and 30 or so volunteers, she said. Then there are the tennis courts and basketball courts and the field itself.

It seems like a big job for a high school freshman to launch a major cleanup and renovation project. But that's exactly what Jess is doing. Instead of focusing on the challenges ahead, Jess is gearing up. She's gathering resources, reaching out to the community and in it for the long haul.

The backdrop for this effort is the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership Academy, of which Jess is a member. And her more-than-willing partner in crime is her chosen mentor — Jayne Marie Davolio — a softball mom who happens to be Millbury's town clerk.

“I was just elated,” said Ms. Davolio, when Jess asked her to help guide her in the process of working out a way to spruce up the field late last year. The field was donated by the Windle family and has great potential, she said. “Times are tough with budgets ... some of these things have gone downhill.”

Ms. Davolio said if there is anyone ready to take on this project, it's Jess. Armed with an outgoing personality, great ideas and organizational skills, Ms. Davolio said Jess is out there making things happen. “She has a folder with every single receipt, be it poster board for a presentation,” or larger items she's purchased, she said.

As the School Committee owns the field, Jess had to seek the panel's approval to take on the cleanup and improvement effort. Her time spent dancing as a younger girl has given her a lot of confidence in doing things like public speaking, she said — a task that causes anxiety for many adults. She went before the committee last month.

“That same night, they approved it,” said Ms. Davolio.

The fact that there are no clear estimates on what it will take monetarily or volunteer-wise is by design, said Ms. Davolio. Jess wants to make people understand what is needed and why, and see if the community will come together to donate labor, materials and funding from residents or contractors. She hosted a community meeting at the high school March 15 and made a PowerPoint presentation on the field rejuvenation, to educate residents about the project.

Word is spreading. Jess now has an account at Millbury Credit Union on Main Street and is putting out donation cans, encountering broad appeal for the cause. At JP's Corner Store for instance, she said, the owner of the store was enthusiastic, and even told her that cleaning up the field was the first thing he was going to do if he ever won Megabucks.

Next up is a coin drive and Windle Field Cleanup Day on April 7. Jess hopes the field rejuvenation, once completed, will help the town in general but also show other kids they can make a difference. In the meantime, she continues to check in weekly with Ms. Davolio. “She is such a great mentor,” Jess said. “I don't think I could do half the stuff without her.”

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